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Enter MNESILOCHUS from his father's house.
MNESILOCHUS
as he enters . I've given up to my father all the gold. Now could I wish that she should meet me, after I am penniless, this fair one so scornful of me. Yet with what great difficulty did he grant me a pardon for Chrysalus. But I prevailed on him at last that he wouldn't be at all angry with him. PISTOCLERUS
apart . Isn't this my friend? MNESILOCHUS
apart . Isn't this my foe that I see? PISTOCLERUS
For sure 'tis he. MNESILOCHUS
'Tis he. PISTOCLERUS
apart . I'll go to meet him, and I'll mend my pace. Aloud. Health to you, Mnesilochus! MNESILOCHUS
Hail! PISTOCLERUS
As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given. MNESILOCHUS
A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler. PISTOCLERUS
Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival? MNESILOCHUS
Aye, and a very grievous one. PISTOCLERUS
From what quarter? MNESILOCHUS
From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend. PISTOCLERUS
Many live after that manner and method, who, when you think them to be friends, are found false with their deceitfulness, strong in their talking, slothful in their doing, of faith infirm. Not one is there whom they don't envy on their enjoying prosperity; through their own indolence do they themselves take right good care that no envy is directed against them. MNESILOCHUS
By my troth, you surely understand their ways most thoroughly. But still this one misfortune do they find from their bad disposition; they are the friends of no one, while they themselves are all at enmity against themselves; and these, while they are deceiving themselves, in their foolishness imagine that others are deceived. Just so is he whom I supposed to be as much a friend to me as I am to my own self. He, so far as in him lay, has taken all care to do whatever injury he could towards me, to turn all my own resources against me. PISTOCLERUS
This same must me a bad man. MNESILOCHUS
I judge that so he is. PISTOCLERUS
Troth now, prithee, do tell me who it is. MNESILOCHUS
He lives on good terms with yourself. But were he not; so, I would entreat you to do him whatever harm you could do. PISTOCLERUS
Only tell me the person, who he is; if I don't do him an injury, some way or other, do you say that I'm the greatest of cowards. MNESILOCHUS
The person's a bad one, but he's your friend, i' faith. PISTOCLERUS
So much the rather, then, tell me who he is. In good sooth, I set no value on the esteem of a worthless person. MNESILOCHUS
I appear, then, not to be able to avoid disclosing to you his name. Pistoclerus, you have utterly undone me, your friend. PISTOCLERUS
How's that? MNESILOCHUS
How's that? Did I not send you a letter from Ephesus about my mistress, that you should find her out for me? PISTOCLERUS
I own you did; and I have discovered her. MNESILOCHUS
How now? Was there not a choice for you of other Courtesans in Athens, for you to form engagements with, instead of with her whom I had recommended to your care? Could you yourself begin to love, and to contrive an injury against myself? PISTOCLERUS
Are you in your senses? MNESILOCHUS
I have found out the whole affair from your tutor; don't deny it. You've ruined me. PISTOCLERUS
What, still upbraiding me without reason with these rebukes of yours? MNESILOCHUS
Why? You're in love with Bacchis. PISTOCLERUS
But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house. MNESILOCHUS
How, two? PISTOCLERUS
Aye, and the two are sisters. MNESILOCHUS
You are now designedly telling idle stories. PISTOCLERUS
In fine, if you persist in thinking there's but little confidence in me, I'll take you upon my shoulders, and carry you hence into their house. MNESILOCHUS
Well, I'll go; but stay a moment. PISTOCLERUS
I will not stay, and you shall not be holding me under a false suspicion. MNESILOCHUS
I follow you then. (They go into the house of BACCHIS.)
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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